Deck frame and system

ABSTRACT

A deck structure of frame is formed by longitudinally extending C frame members which are maintained in predetermined spaced relationship by laterally extending C frame members extending therebetween. The laterally extending C frame members are provided with a slotted configuration for engaging with the longitudinally extending C frame members and support legs are provided which may be adjustable to position the longitudinally and laterally extending C frame members at a desired height. When disassembled the frame members and support legs may be nested in interengaging relationship for shipment.

United States Patent [1 1 Thompson 1 Apr. 8, 1975 1 1 DECK FRAME ANDSYSTEM [75] Inventor: Harold D. Thompson, Houston, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Til-Row, Inc., Houston, Tex.

[22] Filed: Nov. 1, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 412,009

[52] [1.8. Cl 52/263; 312/257 SK; 108/153; 211/182; 248/1881; 248/1885;52/36 [51] Int. Cl E04b l/54; EO4b 5/43 [58] Field of Search 52/263,730-732, 52/758 A, 126.36, 758 H, 488, 490, 624,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,694,656 12/1928 Huctten108/111 2,377.427 6/1945 Kessler 52/758 A 2.407.721 9/1946 Nauert 52/758A 3.540.175 l1/l970 Hawn 52/126 3,670,471 6/1972 Smith 52/726 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 236,609 11/1964 Austria 52/731 PrimaryE.\'aminerFrank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner.lames L. Ridgill Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Jack W. Hayden [57] ABSTRACT A deck structure of frame isformed by longitudinally extending C frame members which are maintainedin predetermined spaced relationship by laterally extending C framemembers extending therebetween. The laterally extending C frame membersare provided with a slotted configuration for engaging with thelongitudinally extending C frame members and support legs are providedwhich may be adjustable to position the longitudinally and laterallyextending C frame members at a desired height.

When disassembled the frame members and support legs may be nested ininterengaging relationship for shipment.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DECK FRAME AND SYSTEM SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a deckstructure which may be readily assembled and adjusted to a predeterminedvertical position so that when a surface is placed on the deck frame ofthe present invention, it will be at a desired elevation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pluralityof deck frame members wherein the frame members may be nested in compactrelationship for shipment.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective viewillustrating the deck frame of the present invention as it may be usedwith a typical mobile home with a deck surface thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the frame members of the presentinvention connected together and part of the surface on the frameremoved to better illustrate the interconnecting relationship of thevarious frame components.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one of the support legs illustrating themanner of securing its components together and the manner of securingthe support leg to the remainder of the frame;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the end of one of thelongitudinally extending frame members and one of the laterallyextending frame members to more clearly illustrate the manner ofinterconnecting and securing the two together; and

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating the manner in whichthe components of the frame of the present invention may be nested forshipment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention will bedescribed and illustrated in connection with its use as a porch for amobile home; however. it is to be understood that such is for purposesof example only and is not intended as a limitation since the deck frameof the present invention may be employed wherever desired.

Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings wherein a mobilehome is referred to generally at and is shown as having a door 11. Thedeck frame I3 of the present invention is shown as being positionedadjacent the door 11 with steps referred to generally at 14 beingmounted adjacent the porch. Any suitable surface 50 is provided on theframe 13 to form a porch for the mobile home. The step construction 14is shown in greater detail and claimed in my copending application forSteps for Mobile Home application Ser. No. 447,473, filed on Mar. 4,1974 date.

The deck frame 13 of the present invention is shown in greater detail inFIG. 2 and is shown as including a pair of longitudinally extending Cshaped frame members l5 and 16. Each C frame member 15 and 16 is formedas shown in FIG. 4 and includes a back surface 18 having the endsurfaces 19 and 20 extending longitudinally at each edge thereof whichare at right angles to the portion 18 with the portions 19 and 20 beingparallel to each other. At the outermost edge of the portions 19 and 20,the additional surfaces 21 and 22 are formed integrally with theportions 19 and 20 and extend at right angles thereto and toward eachother so that in cross section the longitudinally extending framemembers 15 and 16 form the shape of a square C. The members 15 and 16are formed of plate material which is bent or formed to the shapedescribed, so that the surfaces 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 preferablyintegral. The surface 18 is of substantial width in relation to thesurfaces 19, 20, 21 and 22 and preferably, surfaces 19, 20, 21 and 22extend continuously of the members 15 and 16.

The laterally extending frame members referred to at 25 are spaced atsuitable longitudinal intervals along and extend between the members 15and 16 as shown in FIG. 1, with a laterally extending member 25 beingprovided adjacent each end 28 and 29 of the deck frame 13. The laterallyextending members 25 are formed by the back surface or plate 31 whichhas integrally formed at each edge the portions 33 and 34 that extend atright angles relative to the surface 31 and the integral portions 36 and37 at the outer edges of portions 33 and 34 and the portions 33, 34extend towards each other whereby the laterally extending frame membersform in cross section a square C configuration. The width of surface 31is substantial in relation to the width of surfaces 33, 34, 36 and 37.

Adjacent each end of each of the laterally extending members 25 there isprovided a pair of slots 40 and 41, such slots being aligned as shown inFIG. 4 and spaced from each of the ends 43 of the laterally extendingsupport members 25. It will be noted that the slots 40 and 41 extendonly partially through the C frame member and only partially throughsurfaces 36 and 37 as well as partially through surface 31 whereby suchslots terminate respectively in spaced relation to the edge 37a of theportion 37 and the edge 36a of the portion 36 as shown at 41a.

The slots 40 and 41 are spaced from the ends 43 of each of the laterallyextending members a suitable distance so that when such laterallyextending members 25 are engaged with the longitudinally extendingmembers l5 and 16. the portions 21 and 22 of the longitudinallyextending members fit within the slots 40 and 41 of the laterallyextending member and surfaces 19 and 20 overlap and fit closely adjacentsurfaces 34 and 33 from the slots 40 and 41 to the end 43 of the members25 to thereby interengage and connect the longitudinally extending framemembers 15 and 16 and laterally extending frame members 25 togetherwithout requiring the use of any screws, fasteners or other type means.The ends of surfaces 33 and 34 abut or fit closely adjacent surface 18when the members 25 are engaged in the members 15 and 16.

The extent of the longitudinal members 15 and 16 and laterally extendingmembers 25 may be that as desired, and preferably is of a suitableextent. so that when they are connected together a deck frame is formedfor receiving a surface such as a piece of plywood as illustrated at 50say, for example, of 4 feet wide X 8 feet in length. Any other modulemay be employed as desired. If desired, additional deck frame membersmay be assembled as referred to in dotted line at 51 in end to end andside by side relation and secured by screws or bolts to each adjacentframe 13 by bolts through openings 52a to form a deck frame of anydesired extent.

Support legs referred to generally at 52 are provided at each corner ofeach deck frame 13 as illustrated in FIG. 2 and the lateral members atthe ends 28 and 29 of the frame as well as the longitudinally extendingmembers 15 and 16 adjacent their ends are provided with openings 18a and25a so that suitable screws or bolts 520 or the like may be securedthrough the openings in the upper end of the support legs 52 as shown inFIG. 2 for securing the legs to the frame. and for securing adjacentdeck frames together as previously described.

The support legs comprise an upper member 60 and a lower member 61 shownin greater detail in FIG. 3. The upper member 60 is formed by fourlongitudinally extending, integral surfaces. A pair of surfaces 63 and64 extend at right angles to each other; third surface 65 extendslongitudinally at preferably right angles adjacent one edge 66 of thesurface 64 as shown in FIG. 3; and fourth surface 68 extends similarlyalong the edge 69 of the surface 63 as shown in FIG. 3.

Each of said surfaces 65 and 68 are notched or recessed at their upperends 650, 68a so that their upper ends 650 and 68a respectivelyterminate in a plane below the plane of the upper end 63a and 64a of thesurfaces 63 and 64 respectively.

Such edges 65a and 68a also receive and support the lower surface of thelongitudinal members 15 and the lower surface 33 of members at each end28 and 29 of the deck frame 13.

The surfaces 63 and 64 are of substantial width in relation to the widthof surfaces 65 and 68 as shown in FIG. 3. Suitable openings 70 areprovided in the surfaces 63 and 64 adjacent their upper end for matchingwith openings 18a in the longitudinal member 15 and openings 52a in thelateral member 25 at the ends 28, 29 of the deck frame so that bolts orthe like may be positioned therein to secure the lateral members 25 aswell as the longitudinally extending members in position at the ends 28and 29 of the frame 13 with the upper leg member 60.

The lower member 61 is of a similar configuration to leg member 60 andis slightly smaller to slidably and snugly telescopically fit therein.It also comprises a pair of longitudinally extending surfaces 72 and 73there being a third surface 74 along the edge 75 of the surface .73 anda surface 76 at right angles to, and along the edge 76a of the surface72. The surfaces 72 and 73 are of substantial width in relation tosurfaces 74 and 76 and it will be noted that surfaces 63, 64, 72 and 73are generally of the same extent as are surfaces 65, 68, 74 and 76.

A plurality of spaced, aligned openings are provided as shown at 64badjacent the lower end of the upper member 60 in surface 64, and insurface 63 (not shown). Aligned, spaced openings 73b and 72b areprovided in the surfaces 73 and 72 for matching with the openings 64b insurfaces 63, 64 so that the upper and lower members 60 and 61 may besecured together by .bolts or the like and may be telescopicallyadjusted to position the top of deck frame 13 comprising thelongitudinal members 15, 16 and lateral members 25 at a desiredelevation.

A footing 80 is provided for the bottom of each support leg including aflat plate 81 having upwardly vertically extending edge portions 82 and83. Openings such as illustrated at 82 may be provided in one of thesurfaces so that the footing 80 may be secured to surfaces 72 and 73adjacent the lower end of the lower member 61 by bolts or screws.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the lateral C frame members areengaged with the longitudinally extending C frame members by engagingthe surfaces 21 and 22 in the slots 40 and 41 as previously described soas to abut surfaces 19, 20 with the top of 34 and bottom of 33respectively. The laterally extending frame members 25 thus have theirsurfaces 33 supported inside the surface 20 and when the members 25 areat the end of the deck 13, the surface 20 and the surface 33 will reston the end edges 65a and 680 respectively of the surfaces 65 and 68 ofthe upper leg member 60.

The spaced laterally extending members 25 that are positioned betweenthe ends 28 and 29 of the deck may be placed at any desired spacedlongitudinal intervals and may be positioned by turning on their side atan angle relative to longitudinal members l5, 16 as illustrated at 500in dotted line of FIG. 2 to engage one of the slots 40, 41 at one end ofthe member 25 in one of the longitudinal members l5, 16. They may bethen moved to engage the other end of the member 25 with the otherlongitudinal member and then rotated to an upright, vertical positionrelative to members 15, 16 as shown in full line in FIG. 2.

The configuration of the components of the deck frame of the presentinvention is provided not only to form a frame for a deck which may bereadily and easily assembled. but also to provide an arrangement so thatthey may be nested when disassembled and placed in a container incompact form requiring a minimum amount of space for shipment.

The legs are secured to the longitudinal and laterally extendingmembers, and a top surface of plywood or other material is thenpositioned on the upper surfaces of the longitudinal member 15, 16 andlateral members 25 by screws or the like as shown in the drawing.

To nest the frame members for shipment, they are arranged as shown inFIG. 5. The longitudinally extending frame members 15 and 16 are firstabutted so that their surfaces 18 are in contact. Thereafter thelaterally extending frames members 25 are engaged around thelongitudinally extending frame members 15 and 16 as shown in FIG. 5.Since the frame members 15 and 16 are of greater longitudinal extentthan the members 25, it can be appreciated that the various pluralmembers 25 will be positioned in longitudinal end to end relationshipsurrounding the members 15 and 16. Thereafter the lower leg portion 61which is slightly smaller in dimension than the leg member is wrappedaround the portions 25 so that its surface 76 or surface 74 overlaps oneedge of the members 25 and the other surface such as 74 overlaps aportion of the adjacent edge. The upper leg member 60 is then positionedso that its surface overlaps the edge 74 and a portion of the surface 73as shown in FIG. 5 and the other surface 68 overlaps the surface 76 anda portion of the surface 72.

The footings are positioned adjacent each end of the nested members asshown at 100, with only a pair being shown. It can be appreciated that apair of footings can be positioned at each end of the nested members. Apair of footings 80 is arranged so that the surfaces 81 are in spacedrelation to each other by reason of the projections 82, 83 on eachfooting.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size,shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

extending surfaces, said surfaces of said upper member including a pairextending substantially at What is claimed is:

right angles to each other, a third surface extending at a right anglealong the edge of one of said pair,

A deck frame comprising: 5 said third surface of said upper memberhaving a two sets of C frame members, each C frame free edge extendingalong substantially the entire h having five longitudinally extendingSurface length thereof, and a fourth surface extending at a Portions;right angle along the edge of the second of said a first Surface Portionof each C frame member pair, said fourth surface of said upper memberhavhaving second and third surface portions extending 10 ing a f edgeextending along Substantially the p l ly to 9 Side thereof- Said Secondentire length thereof, there being a recess in said and thrd Pomons bemgSPaced from each other; third and fourth surfaces of said upper memberadefach C frame member hflvmg fourth surface jacent their upper ends forreceiving said frame f from f Second members of said first and secondsets thereon and ,Surface and a fifth surfa ce porno there beingopenings in said pair of surfaces of said mg perpendicularly from saidthird surface portion, upper member; fqurth and fi Surface Pomons bung2. securing means for positioning in the openings to posed m subsmmmuythe Same plane; secure said upper member to said C frame memd. thecombined widths of said fourth and fifth surbers of Said first andSecond sets;

face P i bemg substantially less than the wldth 3. a lower member formedby four longitudinally exof Sald first Surface .pomon so that. an openarea tending surfaces, said surfaces of said lower memg l between Saidfourth and fifth surface porber including a pair extending substantiallyat right e. s gi ll first set including a pair of C frame members apglesto each other a third Surface fixiendipg extending parallel to oneanother; 25 right angle along the edge of one of saidpair said f. saidsecond set including a plurality of C frame third Surfac? sad lower l ifree members extending laterally between the C frame edge extndmg alongsubstantially erlgth members of said first set adjacent both endsthereof thereof a fourth Surface extendnllg T i and at spaced intervalsalong the lengths thereof; angle along the edge of the second of P 'f g.each C frame member of said second set including fourth Surfafx of Saidlower member having free a pair of angned Slots adjacent each end oneslot edge extending along substantially the entire length of said pairextending: thefeofl l b h I l I l i. only partially across said fourthsurface portion, upper 1 Ower l ers avmg P l ii. entirely across saidsecond surface portion, and of a ahgned l l i v iii. only partiallyacross said first surface portion; securmg means for posmonmg m theOpemngs to the other Slot of Said pair extending. secure said upper andlower members together;

i. only partially across said fifth surface portion, and ii. entirelyacross said third surface portion, and footfng for the lower f of lowermember iii. only partially across said first surface portion "P a flatSurface Wlth a P 9 suffaces at i. said slots in said C frame members ofsaid second 40 anglffs the'retor there g openmgsln at lefist set beingengageable with said fourth and fifth surone of 51nd P of sllrfaceswhereby footmg face portions of said C frame members of said first y Psecflrcd t0 sald lower F F Set, whereby the ends of Said C frame membersf 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said C members said second set maybe positioned to pass through f Said first and Second Sets l pp g h saidopen areas of said C frame members of said disassembled, are nestablewithineach other for shipfirst set, whereupon said C frame members ofsaid ment, the nestmg arrangement P g formed y $a ld C second set may brotated i t l ki engagement members of said first set abutting eachother, said C with said C frame members of said first set to formmembers of Said Second et Surrounding said C mem said frame; bers ofsaid first set, said lower leg members partially j. support legs securedto said frame to position it at 5 overlapping said C members of saidsecond set and said a predetermined level. upper leg members overlappingthe remainder of said 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of saidsup- C members of said second set and partially overlapping port legsinclude: said lower leg members.

I. an upper member formed by four longitudinally

1. A deck frame comprising: a. two sets of C frame members, each C framemember having five longitudinally extending surface portions; b. a firstsurface portion of each C frame member having second and third surfaceportions extending perpendicularly to one side thereof, said second andthird portions being spaced from each other; c. each C frame memberhaving a fourth surface portion extending perpendicularly from saidsecond surface portion and a fifth surface portion extendingperpendicularly from said third surface portion, said fourth and fifthsurface portions being disposed in substantially the same plane; d. thecombined widths of said fourth and fifth surface portions beingsubstantially less than the width of said first surface portion so thatan open area is defined between said fourth and fifth surface portions;e. said first set including a pair of C frame members extending parallelto one another; f. said second set including a plurality of C framemembers extending laterally between the C frame members of said firstset adjacent both ends thereof and at spaced intervals along the lengthsthereof; g. each C frame member of said second set including a pair ofaligned slots adjacent each end, one slot of said pair extending: i.only partially across said fourth surface portion, ii. entirely acrosssaid second surface portion, and iii. only partially across said firstsurface portion; h. the other slot of said pair extending: i. onlypartially across said fifth surface portion, ii. entirely across saidthird surface portion, and iii. only partially across said first surfaceportion i. said slots in said C frame members of said second set beingengageable with said fourth and fifth surface portions of said C framemembers of said first set, whereby the ends of said C frame members ofsaid second set may be positioned to pass through said open areas ofsaid C frame members of said first set, whereupon said C frame membersof said second set may be rotated into locking engagement with said Cframe members of said first set to form said frame; j. support legssecured to said frame to position it at a predetermined level.
 2. Theinvention of claim 1 wherein each of said support legs include:
 1. anupper member formed by four longitudinally extending surfaces, saidsurfaces of said upper member including a pair extending substantiallyat right angles to each other, a third surface extending at a rightangle along the edge of one of said pair, said third surface of saidupper member having a free edge extending along substantially the entirelength thereof, and a fourth surface extending at a right angle alongthe edge of the second of said pair, said fourth surface of said uppermember having a free edge extending along substantially the entirelength thereof, there being a recess in said third and fourth surfacesof said upper member adjacent their upper ends for receiving said framemembers of said first and second sets thereon and there being openingsin said pair of surfaces of said upper member;
 2. securing means forpositioning in the openings to secure said upper member to said C framemembers of said first and second sets;
 3. a lower member formed by fourlongitudinally extending surfaces, said surfaces of said lower memberincluding a pair extending substantially at right angles to each other,a third surface extending at a right angle along the edge of one of saidpair, said third surface of said lower member having a free edgeextending along substantially the entire length thereof, and a fourthsurface extending at a right angle along the edge of the second of saidpair, said fourth surface of said lower member having a free edgeextending along substantially the entire length thereof;
 4. said upperand lower members having a plurality of spaced, aligned openings;
 3. Theinvention of claim 1 wherein said C members of said first and secondsets and said support legs, when disassembled, are nestable within eachother for shipment, the nesting arrangement being formed by said Cmembers of said first set abutting each other, said C members of saidsecond set surrounding said C members of said first set, said lower legmembers partially overlapping said C members of said second set and saidupper leg members overlapping the remainder of said C members of saidsecond set and partially overlapping said lower leg members.
 5. securingmeans for positioning in the openings to secure said upper and lowermembers together; and
 6. a footing for the lower end of said lowermember including a flat surface with a pair of surfaces at right anglesthereto, there being openings in at least one of said pair of surfaceswhereby said footing may be secured to said lower member.